The Hidden

“Yes, you know the place?”


She nodded. “I have a friend who plays drums with the house band there. Eddie Keye. Nice guy. He might have seen her if she was there last night.”

“Do you think someone managed to pick her up in the bar, then take her for a ride, drag her halfway up a mountain and then kill her?” Adam asked.

“It’s possible. The killer surprised Daniel from behind,” Meg said, “but we don’t know how he’s approached his more recent victims.”

“He was wearing a burlap bag over his head when he attacked Daniel,” Scarlet said.

“Obviously he can’t do that if he picks up his victims in public,” Meg added. “But here’s the strange thing. Nathan Kendall and his cohorts—Jeff Bay, Brian Gleason and Billie Merton—wore similar ‘masks’ when they were robbing banks after the Civil War.”

“I’ve got to think it’s all connected,” Diego said. “Meanwhile, food. Let’s get into town and hit the Twisted Antler.”

*

Scarlet noticed that Adam and Jane were walking along the sidewalk ahead of her and Diego, with Brett, Matt and Meg bringing up the rear. And while it all seemed very casual and natural, she was pretty sure that the others were consciously making sure that she was surrounded at all times.

It was rather nice to feel so protected.

When they reached the Twisted Antler, the band was just setting up. Eddie saw her and lifted a hand, smiling.

“I’ll introduce you,” Scarlet said.

“You go ahead,” Adam told the others. “I want to introduce myself to the manager and let him or her know we’re here.”

As he left to speak with the hostess, Scarlet led the others over to where Eddie and his group were setting up.

“Hey,” Eddie said as they approached, looking curiously at her entourage. He offered his hand even before Scarlet got a chance to introduce everyone.

“Nice to meet you,” Eddie said. He pointed to his bandmates, who paused to nod and wave as they were introduced: Jack Isle on bass, Lee Bell on lead guitar and Hanley Warner on keyboard.

“Friends from back East?” Eddie asked. His tone was casual, but she could tell that he was assessing the group and in particular wondering how Adam—who was not only older, but also still wearing his signature suit—fit in.

“Diego is my ex-husband,” Scarlet explained. “He’s a federal agent. Adam—” she nodded in his direction “—heads his division, and Matt, Brett, Jane and Meg are also FBI. They’re working the murders up at the Conway Ranch.”

“Yeah, I was worried, wondering how you were doing. Bad stuff happening here,” Eddie said. “I was going to take a ride up there, tell you maybe you should go back to Florida for a while.” He grinned, looking from her to Diego. “But I see you’re in good hands. Are you guys out to get to know Estes Park tonight or working the case?”

“Both,” Diego said. “We know the most recent victim, Cassandra Wells, liked coming here, so we figured if anyone had seen anything, it might be you guys, or the staff and regulars here. Did you know her, by any chance?”

Eddie nodded. “Casually, from the restaurant and here. She seemed like a nice kid, kind of serious but nice. She didn’t deserve what happened to her.”

“Was she in here last night?”

“I didn’t see her,” Eddie said, “but then, I don’t see everyone.” He pointed back to his bandmates. “Hanley thought he saw her come in, then stand in the back. But she was gone when the set was over. He called that number from the TV and left a message, but no one’s come in to talk to him yet. Hey, Hanley?”